Page 10 of Cruel Titan

“I don’t need a breather. I need you to keep your friend away from me since he can’t accept reality.”

I’m vaguely aware of Mr. Willard announcing that class is beginning, asking everyone to take a seat just as the tardy bell rings. All I wanted was to make it through the day without the psychopath before me inflicting any more misery than he already has. And the thing that escalates my fury is the casual demeanor with which he reclines back against the chair, plucking his phone out of his pocket, and nonchalantly looks at the screen, completely ignoring me.

“Come on, Quinn,” Elliot says, reaching for my arm again, “we’ll talk about it later and you can yell at him all you want. I’m sure the two of you can figure a way to work out your frustrations again,” Elliot teases, obviously clueless as to the true evil that encompasses his so-called best friend.

Asher’s face breaks into a sly grin, and there’s no doubt in my mind it’s in response to Elliot’s insinuation about us working out our frustrations.

“I have a better idea of how to work out my frustrations.” Before I can think twice about what I’m doing, I snatch Asher’s phone out of his hand. Turning to the back of the classroom, I sling the phone across the room, watching as it slams against the solid wall, shattering into pieces. When I look back to Asher, he hasn’t made a move from his lounged posture. “Yep. I feel better.”

“Quinn!” Mr. Willard yells across the room. “I will not tolerate that behavior in my classroom. Make your way to the principal’s office. Now. You two can go with her if you can’t remain civil for my class.”

Asher stands, finally speaking when I’d rather he just stay where he is with his mouth shut. “I’ll help her along.”

“No. I will figure everything out on my own, and I’ll do it without your help.” His tight expression tells me that he understands the meaning behind my words. I will find out the truth about my dad’s death, but it won’t be with Asher’s help.

Snatching my bag off the floor, I stomp out of the classroom as he predictably follows a step behind me. I don’t consider myself a violent person, but Asher has a way of bringing out the worst side of me—which is evident since, even on my way to the principal’s office, I wish I’d thrown the phone at his head instead of the wall. More dread fills me when I figure I’ll get the chance eventually because Asher is sure to keep up his stupid game. The only way out of this is through Asher since it’s more than apparent he won’t allow me to go around him. Asher must embed himself in the center of everything, good or bad, and I have a feeling everything that will come from this will be bad.

9

Asher

She’s still ignoring me. I wouldn’t expect any different from her, especially since she now knows her knight in shining armor, Nathan, is nothing but a liar too. What I didn’t expect was her to cry in front of me. I can handle her anger and hatred, what I can’t handle are her tears. It had been her tears that made me weak the night I watched her cry as she received the news of her dad’s accident. I wanted her angry at Nathan and with me, not sad. She attempts, and fails, to discreetly wipe another tear away as my frustration grows.

“All you had to do was hear me out.” As expected, she doesn’t acknowledge me but wipes at her cheek again. My hands grip the arm rests in a white-knuckle clutch as I press back in the chair, my legs bouncing involuntarily. “Disappointed your protector is one of the bad guys?”

“You are the villain in this tale, no matter how you want to spin the truth,” she responds calmly, without glancing my way. And she’s right. I can toss everyone else under the bus, but I’m just as much if not more at fault than they are.

The door opens and Principal Huntington walks in, shutting it behind him before taking a seat at his desk. He folds his hands, resting them in front of him as he looks between the two of us. “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised to see the two of you in here again. At least this time we didn’t have to fish you out of the lake.”

“The day’s not over,” I respond, relaxing against the chair as I smooth my hands down the stiff material of my slacks.

Huntington ignores my comment as he reads from the paper in front of him. “So, one of you care to explain what happened this time?”

“Asher’s a jackass, and I want to switch out of that period,” Quinn says flatly.

“Well, the swim in the lake didn’t happened because you were in the same class, so I don’t think switching periods will solve the issue.” Huntington looks over to me as Quinn folds her arms over her chest, unhappy that her request was denied. “However, maybe we’ll figure out how to solve the problem over the weekend while both of you spend the days here at school.”

“Just great.” Quinn shakes her head, still avoiding looking in my direction.

“Sounds fun,” I snicker, knowing she won’t defy the sentence, which means I won’t either. Normally, I’d blow off the punishment and deal with the consequences later, but knowing she will be more miserable with me there makes it so appealing. “Just let me know if you need a ride.”

She keeps her head turned away from me, but I can tell she is furious by her rigid posture. I know her body as well as I know what’s going on in that stubborn head of hers. And that’s a problem. She still has too much control over me, so I need to keep up the torment because the only thing I want her to ride is my dick.

Huntington scribbles something, then hands us each a paper. “Get back to class and at least try to avoid each other until the day is over.”

“I couldn’t be that lucky,” Quinn mumbles under her breath as I follow her out of the office and into the hallway.

“Luck has nothing to do with it.”

She picks up the pace, attempting to make a quick escape. I know I should let her go. Stay away from her, but I can’t. I haven’t been able to make a smart decision since I first laid eyes on her. Reaching forward, I grasp her arm, pulling her to me, which causes her hands to crash against my chest. “Let go of me.”

“Or what?” I ask, threading my fingers in her soft hair as I pull her mouth near mine, wanting to taste her. Desiring everything to be like it was when she wanted my mouth on her. “You might hate me, but you still want this as bad as I do.”

“No I don’t, and the sooner you get that through your thick skull, the better for the both of us.” She thumps me on the forehead as she speaks, earning another point for amusement from me.

“Keep fighting me, my little weakling, because as much as you are my weakness, I’m yours too. Hate me with every breath, every ounce of that stubborn resolve of yours, but you will be begging for my touch … again.” Releasing her hair, I slide my hand out, stroking my thumb over her cheek, whispering in her ear as I release her, angry that once again she is getting the better of me. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

Stepping back, I look to her as she gives me that uncompromising stare that is both exasperating and alluring at the same time. “But you did … and you always will.”